Disability Resource Center at ASU helps everyone to excel

Students are offered all kinds of accommodations though the DRC.

At Arizona State University there is a special place that is determined to help students succeed; all they have to do is ask.

The Disability Resource Center is that place. They are accesible to those only by request, and they will do whatever it takes to help.

I sat down with Lance Harrop, Director of the Downtown Disability Resource Center, and he told me all about what they do, why they do it and how it all comes together.

He told me that the center is all about meeting each individual student and finding what will work for them, “…working with faculty and staff to provide information, advise and guidance so that ASU will be accessible for everyone.”

The center is funded by ASU, so it is free for use to every and any student at ASU, and Harrop said that each student is met with “….on a case by case, class by class basis.”

No matter what disability the student has, from autism to having trouble paying attention in class, the center will find what works for that particular student and ensure that they receive that help.

“We’ll look at the impact of the disability…and then we will provide support services accordingly,” said Harrop.

The staff also consists of  ASU students who work as scribes, notetakers, in-class aides and more.

“I really love it there, everyone that comes in is so nice,” said Alyssa Holland, a receptionist and healthy lifestyles coaching major at ASU.

Many people may think that education ends after high school, but the Disability Resource Center proves differently by aiding those at ASU who need some extra help.

Living Life to the Max

Max Hughes is a 12-year-old boy who has been diagnosed as mildly mentally “restricted,” (it is actually retarded, but remember that’s not a word anymore!) autistic, he has cerebral palsy, seizures, and he has ADHD.

Max’s story is a unique one because he happens to have a twin brother, Nick. For five years pediatricians and specialists told Max’s parents that he would have a learning disability, but that he would soon catch up to everyone his age and everything would be fine. Then after Max turned five the diagnoses started rolling in.

Although to anyone else it may seem as though this would be an impossible task, Max could not have a better family. Emily, Max’s mother, had another son, Teddy, and he and Nick have helped Max to grow and learn.

Max may be labeled with all of these disabilities, but according to Emily, “Max doesn’t know the word ‘never,'” and his strength has made him go beyond what doctors said he would be able to do.

Please watch the video above to learn more about Max and his incredible life and family!

Walking for Special Needs

October is coming up soon which means Halloween, pumpkins, costumes, and more. But there are some other things coming up in October that may just top Halloween!

There are two walks that benefit different special needs organizations, and they are both on October 28 (I wish they weren’t the same day). Regardless of the need to choose between these two awesome organizations I hope you all do end up choosing to go to at least one, because these are great causes.

The first is Walk Now for Autism Speaks, held in Tempe, that will help to raise money toward research and better future for those with Autism.

The second is the Buddy Walk, held in Tucson, which promotes understanding and education about Down Syndrome.

We walk somewhere every single day, so why not take some time on Sunday, October 28 (Ask off of work NOW!) and walk for a reason. Nobody wants to walk alone, so grab some friends and make everyone come out to help some great causes.

P.S. You DO NOT need to know anyone with Autism or Down Syndrome or even know that much about either of them you just need an open mind and heart!